Annette Girke
Textile Dialogues

6 October until 3 December 2023

Born in Bamberg in 1965, painter and sculptor Annette Girke now resides in Starnberg. Her talent was recognized in 2019 when she received the Starnberg Art Award. This honor entitled her to work from 2020 to 2023 in a studio owned by the town council, which was previously the residence of artist Paul Thiem. Many pieces showcased in the exhibition were crafted during this tenure.

Girke’s artistic language often incorporates textiles, fabrics, and weaves. A series of paintings is dedicated to the intricate structure of patchwork carpets. These carpets, made from repurposed clothing and fabric remnants, have cultural roots stretching back centuries in various cultures. When Girke translates these textiles into paint, the outcome is abstract compositions that echo elements of classical modernism. In another series, she employs soft fleece as the canvas, resulting in artworks that seem to either recede into – or emerge from – a deep, three-dimensional fabric landscape.

The backdrop of Girke’s tenure as an art laureate was the COVID-19 pandemic and its lockdown restrictions. A reminder of this is evident in her evocative paintings showing places of longing – painted escapes to far-off destinations.